Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Model, average or disaster Student... Which one are you?

People regularly use the term “The Model Student” within the education industry when describing what the ideal student would do when passing their exams with top marks.

However, the idea of the model student can seem a bit out of reach for some students, as they may think that they will never get to that level.

I wanted to explore the idea of the model student therefore, in order to try and work out what really makes the perfect student within the accountancy world, with the hope of potentially inspiring a few students to reach that little bit further within their own studies to achieve the best that they possibly can.

To start off with however, we need to give the model student term a little bit more context. So let's first look at what makes an average student.

The Average Student

When talking about averages in education, most see this as the benchmark for their learning. In most cases it's interpreted as doing just the right amount of work to pass, which seems to be good enough for most, and so therefore 'it must be good enough for me'. For this reason, the majority of people, when asked, would probably associate themselves to this group.

But what is average when it comes to the accountancy training sphere? Fortunately, we have some facts and figures of or own to help us outline what it means to be average in our student's field of study.

From a recent Astranti survey, an average student looked something like this:

The average student appears to plan their studies well, using a range of different materials across what appears to be an acceptable amount of time in total.

Average students may also do well by searching for a wide range of sources, perhaps not just settling for the tuition provider with the biggest brand image. They might also make use of some of the additional resources available to them, such as reading blogs, forums and discussion boards across the web.

It is debatable however, whether the characteristics of the average student really makes for the best course of action when it comes to assessing and planning your own studies. In some instances, the average student might be something to look up to, especially if considering the disaster student.

The Disaster Student

It might become apparent in this section that the disaster student is not necessarily something to aspire to.

A disaster student might be highlighted by a few of the following traits when it comes to their studying:

Study time per week: <2 hours (depending on how late their studies are started)

Total study time allocated: <2 weeks before exam

Mock/practice exams completed: ≤1 exam

Materials used: Study text only

In addition to these factors, a disaster student is normally the de-motivated type, leaving revision to the last minute, working completely on their own with no external input or guidance and potentially getting distracted very easily.

The likelihood of a disaster student passing their exams first time is slim, though they might never get to the exam as a disaster student would quite possibly be tempted to put off their exams until a later date, which is of course fine once or twice should other commitments arise, but if it is down to a lack of motivation, then there is no saying how long a disaster student will delay their exams.

It is this factor of motivation that might signify the difference between the three categories of students highlighted, and is a factor that brings us on to the model student.

The Model Student

Below are a few figures you can use to compare our idea of a model student with the others:

Study time per week: 10+ hours

Total study time allocated: 6+ weeks before exam

Mock/practice exams completed: 3+ exams

Materials used: Anything available to them (if appropriate for the individual)

On top of these key characteristics, a model student will seek for additional input on their studying, often visiting discussion boards (as the average student may do), however instead of just reading, a model student is more likely to get involved with discussions, asking questions and sharing their ideas and opinions with other students and tutors where available.

High motivation from the outset allows model students to fully get their teeth into the study material, enabling them to understand and apply their knowledge when tested.

In terms of distractions, it is hard for anyone to shut themselves away completely when studying, so some procrastination is normal. It is a model student however, when they are able to restrict themselves to other activities (usually involving social media) for only an allocated amount of time between study sessions.

Where do you sit?

Hopefully you have read through this article questioning whether you agree with some of the points made regarding the characteristics of the student groups. You might have also put some thought into which category you are in.

If you think you are in the Average Student group, (or even the Disaster group!) then hopefully this has made you reassess what you can actually achieve, as the Model Student group might not be as far off as you may have first thought.

To find out more about how Astranti can help you to become a Model Student, visit our website: